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The sound of farting or the creaking of shoes while walking or running can be annoying. It draws attention to the shoe and distracts others. Noise in your shoes is also one of the ways to get a bad reputation. So, how to prevent farting noise in shoes?
In short, to avoid shoes that fart or squeak, you must consider the type of shoes you have and the parts of the shoes that make the noise. If you wear an insole or insoles in your shoes, pay attention to the creases in the sole that appear when you bend under your toes. You can use baby powder under the insoles and it works for many people. Also check the insoles for damage, dampness, or soiling. If your insole is deformed, replace it with a new one. If your dress shoes are making noise, I recommend wearing them for an extra 7 to 14 days until they are fully worn. Also, make sure you are wearing the correct shoe size and that you have properly laced your shoes. If you’re wearing Birkenstocks or sandals and making these sucking noises, it’s due to trapped air in the footbed or ankle strap.
Read this guide to the end, as I’ll detail helpful tips on how to get rid of squeak sound from shoes.
Why Do Shoes Make Fart Noises and How to Prevent Them?
The squeak of a shoe or sandal depends on several factors. Squeaks or farts come from the following sources:
- Outsole
- Insole
- Heel Cup
- Tongue
- Trapped air through the footbed
- New shoes
#1 Noise from the sole unit
This farting noise from a shoe depends on the sole material and the surface it touches. Sneakers like the Converse or Vans have rubber soles that squeak on the wooden floor of the gym. So this is normal. The non-slip rubber sole works and sticks to the ground.
Shoes like Nike Air Max or Jordans can also produce irritating squeaks when walking on any surface. This is due to trapped air in the midsole unit, which manufacturers inject to improve cushioning and provide springy steps.
Prevention
If you’re too annoyed by the squeaks due to the sole unit, you can sand them down to roughen them up and reduce the squeaks they make.
It’s a bit of an odd approach to removing the squeak from the Nike sole. But trust me, it does work. You need to be a little tricky to make this step flawless. So all you need is a WD40 and a 0.4mm syringe. Next, you need to find the exact point of the sole that makes the fart sound. Insert the needle into the sole until you can pass through the hard surface and into the air chamber as shown. Now inject WD40 into the chamber. When it starts to evaporate, some trapped air bubbles will come out.
#2 Fart sound from the insole
If the outsole is all right, the squeak is likely coming from the footbed. Now there are several reasons. The culprit is usually the orthopedic insole, which creates a creaking sound. The reason is that it rubs the footbed when walking. This creates a grinding sound due to friction.
Prevention
If your shoes have leather insoles and you’re not wearing socks, try wearing them and then walk around your house for a while to see if the fart noise goes away. If this is not the case, there are several solutions to suppress the squeak from the insole. Best known for using baby powder. You must first remove the insole and sprinkle the powder inside the shoe. Then insert the insole, making sure it fits perfectly with the footbed. The powder reduces friction and smoothes the movement of the insole.
You can also use a silicone spray, hand sanitizer, or sanding insoles to remove noise from your shoes.
#3 Squeaking sound from retained water
Sometimes your feet sweat too much, which traps moisture in hidden places in your shoes. This usually happens in the summer, when you stand, walk or run long distances during work hours and put the shoes in the closet, the moisture in the shoes doesn’t dry out. It can also happen if you accidentally step in a shallow puddle or wear your shoes in the rain. It doesn’t matter if you use talc or oil under the sole; it won’t eliminate the squeak.
Prevention
So there are two ways to remove hidden moisture and sound-absorbing noise from shoes. The first method is to hold the shoe against the wall of the tub or bathroom, turn the heater on toward the mouth of the shoe for an hour or so, and close the bathroom door. This hot air causes the moisture to evaporate.
The second method is to put the shoes in the dryer. Hmm, I don’t know what type of shoes you have to lock in moisture. No matter what shoes you’re wearing, first, ask the manufacturer if you can put them in the dryer. If it’s okay, you can put the shoes in the dryer on a shorter cycle to remove moisture. Hope they don’t creak when they come out.
#4 Creaking sound from high arches
This fart sound is usually made in sandals or Birkenstocks. It’s similar to the sound you make when you squeeze your hands together to create a vacuum and pop it out.
Prevention
If your sandals have dried thoroughly and are still squeaking, there are two ways you can stop your sandals from squeaking. First, you can use thin, industrial-strength Velcro. Velcro provides suction and helps air escape.
All you have to do is cut out a 1″ piece of Velcro (only the soft, fluffy side) and attach it to the sandal bed where your arches meet. You can use small pieces of Velcro depending on the length and width of the arch. Velcro straps are comfortable and sturdy. They will get stuck in the insole of the sandal for a long time and you won’t have any problems.
You can also take a baby wipe and place it between your feet and your sandals. However, this method will not last long. You will need to change baby wipes occasionally.
#5 Shoe tongue creaking
The squeak is usually made of leather shoes, including dress shoes and sneakers like the Adidas sambas. The tongue rubs against the inside of the shoe until the laces are tied. According to Sambas wearers, short-tongue styles tend to make this evasive sound compared to long-tongue styles. So when you first use the technology to remove this noise, make sure it’s not coming from the sole.
Prevention
To stop the sound of your shoe tongue farting, you can apply Vaseline, petroleum jelly, lip balm, or lotion. These are temporary methods that you can easily use. The permanent method is a bit technical. You need to use fine-grained sandpaper. Sandpaper can reduce the shine of shoes. But don’t worry, it won’t be seen. Sand the tongue and inner area until it’s smooth. After that, put on your shoes and walk a distance to see if the noise is still there or gone.
#6 Squeak noise from new shoes
You’ll notice this farting sound when new leather shoes or leather dries out and scratches. The leather in most dress shoes is a bit stiff, which is why it takes some time to get used to your feet. During this break-in period, you’re likely to hear a nasty fart when you’re walking in your new shoes.
Prevention
To stop the leather upper from squeaking, you need to soften it. You can use wax-based leather oils and conditioners. Apply conditioner to the crease above the toe box and under the laces. You can also use shoe stays to soften the leather.
#7 Shoe fart noise due to loose and slippery heels
Squeaking from such shoes usually occurs when the heel is too narrow to slide with the shoe while walking. This squeak due to a loose fit is often seen in leather shoes, some hiking boots, and Chuck Taylors. The reason Chuck Taylors II heels slip is that they have a compressible Lunarlon sock liner. When you take a step, the insole compresses under the weight of the heel, causing it to rub against the heel cup.
Prevention
First, you need to buy shoes that fit your feet and lace them properly. Make sure your back foot is not loose in the shoe.
Your socks could also be the culprit. I find that 100% cotton socks are the easiest to squeak in shoes after a bit of wear. So if you wear cotton socks, I would recommend 100% synthetic socks.
If you can’t wear synthetic socks because of skin problems, lubricate your heel cups with hair oil or hand sanitizer.
You can also use moleskin to prevent shoes from rubbing against your heels. Here’s what one customer on Amazon said about their experience using Moleskin to stop the fart sound of their shoes.
#8 Shoe metal handle farting sound
This is also a big problem with dress shoes. With the exception of Alan Edmonds, some dress shoes have a metal shank under the insole that manufacturers screw on to add stiffness to the shoe when worn. After a while, depending on the quality of the dress shoes, the metal calves start to lose strength, and the shoes squeak.
Prevention
The only way to fix this squeak is to take the shoe to a shoemaker or manufacturer to have the metal shoe handle repaired. You can’t do anything by yourself.
In Summary
So here’s a quick summary of what I’ve discussed about getting a fart or squeak out of your shoes or sandals for different situations.
- Sprinkle baby powder or silicone spray under insoles
- When wearing on polished floors, sand the rubber outsole
- Apply leather oil or wax to the creases of leather shoes and under the tongue
- Put your shoes in the dryer or dry them against a heater
- Use industrial-grade Velcro or baby wipes in sandals
- Choose the right shoes
- Use moleskin, heel grips, or apply hand cream to prevent shoes from chafing
- If possible, avoid cotton socks and try switching to synthetic socks
